The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-27
A HooSIER HERMIT.
Plenty of Money, but Lives in Wretch
edness and Squalor.
From the Chicago Herald.

Plenty OF Money, but Lives In wretch
edness and Squalor
From the Chicago HeraId.
There is situated four miles south of here
an oddly constructed hut of two rooms.
The house is located some distance back
from the public highway, and to the casual
observer passing along cannot be seen at
all. The place is completely shielded from
ali view by dense growth of bamboo,
which Of itself is a curiosity in this climate.
A well worn pathway is the only passage
that leads up to the door of this rude dwell
ing, where lives one of the most amusing
and eccentric characters to be found III In
diana
The name of the person is John Moon,
and his age, to judge from appearance, is
about 80 years. He is yet strong, and in
summer often makes long journeys on foot,
attending all the fairs, public sales and
shows OF all kinds for many miles around,
where he is well known by almost every
man, woman and child. He goes barefooted
both winter and summer, and is fond Of
Boosting that his feet never knew a cover
ing. OF his early life but little is known,
except what he chooses to tell. He came to
this place many years ago, when the coun-
try was new, and entered 100 acres of the
richest farming land, which he yet retains.
He was never married, and is not known to
have any living relative. Up to few
years ago he worked industriously on his
farm, and must by his labors have accumu
lated a small fortune, but he always asserts,
when asked concerning his wealth.
that he is poor man. 1t is supposed that
he has his treasure buried, from the fact
that the business men of this place are
often called upon to exchange gold coin for
silver and paper currency by him. EVIL
disposed persons have upon more than one
occasion made nocturnal visits to his farm
and hunted for the money, but with no sue
cess. This extremely peculiar individual
claims that his boyhood days and those OF
his early manhood were spent i'll the Rocky
mountains and he has considerable evidence
in the way Of hunting relics to support his
declarations. His lonely hut, which is only
occupied by himself, is veritable curiosity
shop, and possesses great interest for any
person who is so lucky as to gain admit
lance thereto.
A reporter recently happened in the
vicinity of Moons premises, and determined
to pay visit to the abode of this strange
character, both for the purpose Of satisfy
ing his own curiosity and securing, if pos
sible, morsel for the readers of his paper.
The old hermit, or miser, was found in a
small enclosure adjoining the hut, feeding
his poultry, numbering several hundred.
which focked around him without fear
His income from their sale must amount to
considerable. Your correspondent, by play
ing the role of a hunter and complmentng
the fourishing condition of his poultry,
finally succeeded in gaining the confidence
of the old man, and upon expressing a de-
sire to view the interior of the mean howell,
was unceremOniously invited inside.
The rooms were almost entirely devoid of
furniture. An old cupboard, with few
pieces of old crockery and cooking utensils;
a broken-backed chair and an iron pot or
two completed the list The style and num-
Der of the decorations, however, were aston
ishing Over the door, which was the single
entrance to the cabin, was the old fint-lock
rifle, which the old man says, was his con-
slant companion in all of his hunting ex-
PLOTS in the Rockies" No carpet covers
the rough-hewn board floor, but instead
there are thrown carelessly around numer
GUS bear, panther, buffalo, and many other
wild animals hides. With each specimen
an interesting tale of daring bravery is con-
nected, which Moon, when in the right
mind, is very fond of relating. He enter
tanned your correspondent with a few of
these wondrous stories, which, If space
would permit, would make good reading
for those adventurously inclined. Ranged
upon shelves around on all sides of both
rooms were the mementos of his early
travels. A few were from Mexico. where
but greater part of the cnriosltieS were
from what was then the wild and unsettled
Vest They embrace collections of Indian
darts, tomahawks, stone axes and various
other articles used in Indian warfare, be-
sides curious stones and nuggets of gold and
silver, kept as q remembrance of the Cali
fornia gold excitement of 40, of which
Moon was an active participant
1t is surmised by some that be prospered
there, and has his fortune hidden in some
secure place upon his farm. One of the Gu
riosities that interested your correspondent
most was several pairs of ell1s' horns of tire
mendous size, which ornament the walls of
the rooms. Previous to the departure of
his attentive but somewhat inquisitive Wis
itor, the queer individual extended polite
invitation TO partake of a frugal repast,
which he had hastily prepared. The bill of
fare consisted of hard biscuits and fried
squirrel, well seasoned, cooked over an old
fashioned fireplace. The meal was rel
! ished. 1t was served standing, there being
NO seats to occupy, in the simplest manner.
Upon leaving your correspondent was
heartily enjoined to ''caIl again" Moon,
like most other persons of his character, is
considered by the people of this section as
authority upon weather prophecy.